This match is live from 4:45pm at the Ikoyi Club, Lagos

From the start it didn’t really look like we were going to have a repeat of last year’s final. While Joseph Imeh’s half of the draw was relatively light as it seemed, Henry Atseye might have been bothered about his own section of the draw, which had second seed and title-favourite, Sylvester Emmanuel, third seed, Abdulmumin Babalola, Nigeria’s No.4, Thomas Otu, as well as the dangerous Michael Chima.

But just like last year when he went past an unfavourable draw to reach the final and eventually clinch the title, Atseye has done so again this week and is now on the verge of a successful title-defense. Must be a thing for the Rainoil Open?

Having lacked consistency in tournaments leading up to the Rainoil Open, Atseye’s campaign got off to a great start. He got past Philip Abayomi in the opening round and the unheralded Chinedu Iwuagbwu in the next one. Michael Chima, who was meant to put up a challenge, looked out of sorts and appeared to struggle through the second set with injury. After moving past Chima, Atseye ran into veteran Abdulmumin Babalola. Stretched to three sets, he managed to withstand the 33-year-old’s sizzling power, coming back from the brink of defeat more than once to set up a blockbuster semis showdown against Sylvester Emmanuel.

Emmanuel gained the upper hand earlier in their contest and took the first set. However, as the match progressed, Atseye raised his level to turn the match in his favour, before going on to seal a tight 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory.

Can he now cap off what already has been an excellent week by beating Imeh in the final again?

Imeh, after his victory over Uche Oparaoji in the semifinals, had appeared confident and said he doesn’t care about who he will face in the final. “It’s going to be a fresh start for me and I believe I can win,” the 21-year-old added, in reference to his dismal record in tournament finals.

Having breezed through the early rounds with usual ease, Imeh was taken to the edge by Emmanuel Idoko in the quarterfinals and by Uche Oparaoji in the semifinals. In both contests, the 21-year-old had to dig deep to stave off the attacks and reach yet another final.

In recent times, getting to a final hasn’t been Imeh’s problem; winning, has. The youngster has arguably been Nigeria’s best player for the past two years. Save the CBN Senior Open in June this year, Imeh has reached the finals of all national tournaments since February 2017 and won just one – the Rainoil/Ikoyi 1938 Masters. But it could be about to change. Before the tournament, the 2017 Rainoil Open finalist said, losing in finals is a challenge that he’s dealt with already and he believes he will turn things around.

Imeh was beaten in three sets by Atseye in last year’s final. Can he exact revenge and snap his losing streak in finals today or will Atseye reign supreme again?

Thank you for all of the efforts on this web page. My mom really likes participating in internet research and it’s obvious why. Many of us learn all regarding the powerful tactic you produce sensible information on the website and even attract contribution from some other people on that theme then our favorite simple princess is now discovering a lot. Take pleasure in the rest of the new year. You have been carrying out a first class job.

I simply wanted to thank you so much once more. I’m not certain the things I could possibly have worked on without the entire techniques discussed by you concerning such theme. It truly was the intimidating concern in my opinion, however , coming across this specialised style you resolved that made me to leap over joy. I am happy for this advice and even hope you are aware of a great job you were providing instructing the mediocre ones through the use of your web page. Most likely you’ve never met any of us.

You could definitely see your enthusiasm within the article you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times go after your heart.|

I precisely wanted to thank you so much all over again. I do not know the things I would have created in the absence of those creative ideas documented by you relating to that subject matter. It has been an absolute distressing scenario for me personally, nevertheless seeing the very professional technique you treated it made me to weep with joy. I am just happy for this information as well as hope you comprehend what a powerful job you happen to be putting in instructing most people through a web site. Probably you haven’t got to know any of us.

I’m also commenting to let you know of the fine discovery my cousin’s daughter encountered studying your site. She figured out so many issues, with the inclusion of how it is like to have a very effective giving mindset to have many people without problems fully understand specific very confusing things. You actually exceeded visitors’ expected results. Thank you for coming up with such valuable, dependable, edifying as well as unique thoughts on this topic to Tanya.

I’m writing to let you be aware of what a remarkable encounter my friend’s daughter went through visiting your webblog. She realized so many details, which include how it is like to possess an ideal coaching nature to have other individuals smoothly comprehend selected problematic matters. You actually exceeded my expectations. I appreciate you for displaying these insightful, dependable, edifying and as well as fun tips about this topic to Sandra.

I must express appreciation to this writer just for rescuing me from this type of issue. After browsing throughout the the web and seeing principles which are not productive, I assumed my life was done. Living devoid of the strategies to the difficulties you have sorted out by means of your good report is a serious case, and those that could have in a wrong way affected my career if I had not encountered your web site. Your knowledge and kindness in controlling every item was important. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a subject like this. It’s possible to at this moment look forward to my future. Thanks very much for your specialized and effective help. I won’t be reluctant to refer the sites to anyone who needs to have guidelines on this topic.

My spouse and i were absolutely more than happy when Emmanuel managed to finish up his survey using the precious recommendations he got while using the web site. It is now and again perplexing to simply continually be giving freely concepts which often many people may have been trying to sell. And we all grasp we have got the blog owner to be grateful to for that. The type of illustrations you’ve made, the easy blog navigation, the relationships your site make it easier to create – it’s many unbelievable, and it is helping our son in addition to our family imagine that that subject is excellent, and that’s tremendously indispensable. Many thanks for all the pieces!

I truly wanted to make a note to say thanks to you for these superb steps you are posting at this website. My time-consuming internet look up has at the end been compensated with brilliant details to talk about with my pals. I would assert that many of us readers actually are undeniably blessed to be in a wonderful community with very many brilliant individuals with good plans. I feel quite grateful to have used the webpage and look forward to so many more fun times reading here. Thanks a lot once again for all the details.

I needed to create you that tiny note just to give thanks the moment again for all the great information you have documented on this site. This is simply extremely generous with people like you to convey publicly what some people could have marketed as an ebook to make some dough for their own end, primarily now that you might well have done it if you considered necessary. Those tactics also served like a easy way to realize that someone else have a similar fervor like my very own to learn more and more in respect of this problem. I’m certain there are some more enjoyable periods up front for individuals that scan through your website.

I precisely desired to thank you so much once again. I am not sure what I would’ve made to happen in the absence of the entire methods revealed by you on my area of interest. It actually was an absolute daunting setting in my view, nevertheless coming across this specialized manner you dealt with the issue took me to leap over contentment. I’m happy for the advice and thus believe you really know what an amazing job you happen to be undertaking training the others thru your website. I’m certain you have never got to know all of us.

Thank you so much for giving everyone remarkably breathtaking possiblity to read articles and blog posts from here. It is usually so sweet and also stuffed with a lot of fun for me and my office co-workers to search your web site minimum thrice in 7 days to find out the fresh stuff you have got. Not to mention, I’m actually fulfilled concerning the gorgeous suggestions you serve. Selected 1 facts in this posting are undoubtedly the most impressive we have all had.

I in addition to my guys came reading through the good solutions located on your web site and so immediately I got a terrible suspicion I had not thanked the site owner for those secrets. All the guys appeared to be as a consequence excited to learn all of them and now have absolutely been enjoying those things. Appreciate your simply being very thoughtful and also for picking out such fabulous areas millions of individuals are really desperate to be informed on. My sincere apologies for not saying thanks to sooner.

My husband and i got ecstatic Albert managed to do his investigation through your precious recommendations he discovered using your site. It’s not at all simplistic to simply possibly be giving freely guidance some people have been making money from. Therefore we discover we’ve got the blog owner to appreciate for that. The main illustrations you have made, the straightforward web site navigation, the friendships your site assist to engender – it’s everything impressive, and it’s facilitating our son in addition to us understand that matter is exciting, and that’s exceedingly serious. Thanks for the whole lot!

I in addition to my guys were actually reading the nice ideas on your site and so unexpectedly I had a terrible suspicion I never expressed respect to the site owner for those strategies. Most of the men became absolutely thrilled to read through them and have in effect sincerely been having fun with those things. Thank you for truly being so helpful and for obtaining variety of important ideas millions of individuals are really eager to discover. Our own sincere apologies for not expressing gratitude to you sooner.

I together with my guys were found to be viewing the best ideas found on your web site and then instantly got a terrible suspicion I had not thanked you for those strategies. The men appeared to be as a result glad to see all of them and already have really been using them. Appreciate your being very thoughtful as well as for picking these kinds of extraordinary subject areas most people are really eager to discover. Our sincere apologies for not saying thanks to you earlier.

Thanks a lot for giving everyone such a terrific chance to check tips from this blog. It is always so great and also packed with a great time for me and my office colleagues to search your website nearly thrice in 7 days to read the new issues you have. Not to mention, I am also usually amazed for the amazing solutions served by you. Some 1 tips in this posting are basically the finest we’ve ever had.

I would like to express my passion for your generosity in support of persons who really want guidance on this one niche. Your special commitment to getting the message across ended up being wonderfully powerful and has really empowered many people just like me to realize their ambitions. Your amazing informative key points can mean this much a person like me and especially to my peers. Regards; from everyone of us.

I would like to express my appreciation to you for bailing me out of this particular issue. As a result of browsing throughout the online world and coming across concepts which were not productive, I was thinking my entire life was well over. Existing without the strategies to the issues you’ve resolved all through the report is a crucial case, and the kind that could have in a negative way affected my entire career if I had not come across the website. The competence and kindness in playing with a lot of stuff was very useful. I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t encountered such a point like this. I can also at this point relish my future. Thanks a lot so much for the reliable and effective guide. I won’t hesitate to suggest your blog to anyone who would like direction on this problem.

I in addition to my pals were actually reading through the great information from your web page and then at once developed a horrible feeling I never thanked the web blog owner for those tips. All the men were so warmed to read them and have now really been having fun with them. Appreciate your turning out to be quite accommodating and then for choosing some decent areas most people are really wanting to understand about. My very own honest regret for not expressing appreciation to earlier.

I am glad for commenting to let you be aware of of the amazing experience my girl had browsing your web site. She discovered numerous things, including what it’s like to possess a great giving mindset to get folks smoothly have an understanding of specified specialized subject matter. You undoubtedly surpassed my desires. Thank you for giving the necessary, trustworthy, educational and also fun guidance on the topic to Sandra.

My spouse and i got quite fortunate that Ervin managed to carry out his survey through your ideas he obtained while using the blog. It’s not at all simplistic to just find yourself giving out key points people might have been selling. And we all do know we now have you to give thanks to for this. The illustrations you have made, the simple web site menu, the relationships you will give support to instill – it is all fabulous, and it’s really assisting our son in addition to us consider that the subject is cool, and that is extraordinarily vital. Thank you for the whole thing!

I have to express my respect for your kindness supporting men and women that absolutely need guidance on the issue. Your special commitment to getting the solution around appears to be pretty significant and has without exception encouraged girls like me to realize their endeavors. Your entire valuable recommendations implies much to me and a whole lot more to my fellow workers. With thanks; from all of us.

I wanted to post you one little word to help say thanks over again regarding the spectacular secrets you have discussed here. It has been so wonderfully generous of people like you to make publicly all many people could have made available for an e book to help with making some profit for their own end, chiefly now that you might have done it in the event you desired. The inspiring ideas as well served to become a great way to be sure that some people have similar fervor the same as my very own to understand way more in regard to this matter. I am sure there are numerous more fun moments up front for individuals who find out your website.

I actually wanted to construct a simple note to appreciate you for some of the awesome ideas you are writing on this site. My time-consuming internet investigation has at the end of the day been rewarded with sensible facts to share with my friends. I ‘d assume that we site visitors actually are very fortunate to live in a fantastic place with so many special people with beneficial strategies. I feel rather privileged to have seen your website page and look forward to some more amazing moments reading here. Thanks a lot once more for a lot of things.

My wife and i have been so joyous that Louis could carry out his preliminary research while using the precious recommendations he discovered from your very own web page. It is now and again perplexing just to always be giving away hints which often the others could have been making money from. And we all remember we have got the website owner to thank because of that. All the explanations you’ve made, the easy blog menu, the friendships you assist to instill – it’s all wonderful, and it’s helping our son and us feel that the concept is pleasurable, and that is very indispensable. Thank you for the whole lot!

I must express my gratitude for your kind-heartedness giving support to persons that absolutely need guidance on in this matter. Your personal commitment to getting the solution throughout ended up being rather helpful and has constantly made those like me to achieve their endeavors. Your personal warm and friendly suggestions implies much to me and a whole lot more to my office colleagues. Thank you; from each one of us.

I simply wanted to construct a small remark in order to express gratitude to you for all of the lovely points you are sharing at this website. My considerable internet research has now been paid with incredibly good insight to go over with my friends and family. I would admit that many of us visitors are unquestionably blessed to be in a superb network with very many brilliant individuals with good points. I feel extremely lucky to have come across your entire website page and look forward to really more brilliant times reading here. Thanks a lot once more for a lot of things.

I not to mention my friends came viewing the best thoughts on the blog while instantly I got a terrible feeling I never expressed respect to the website owner for those techniques. My young men ended up so thrilled to read through all of them and have certainly been having fun with them. Thanks for indeed being quite accommodating and then for finding varieties of marvelous themes most people are really desirous to know about. My sincere apologies for not saying thanks to you earlier.